Nutritional Facts

Directions

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine water and food coloring; add coconut. Seal bag and shake to tint coconut; set aside. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons shortening; stir until smooth.

For witches' hats, place about 1/3 cup chocolate mixture in a resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Pipe a small amount of chocolate on a cookie. Dip a Bugle in some of the remaining chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Position over chocolate on cookie, forming a witch's hat. Set on waxed paper to dry. Repeat with remaining chocolate, Bugles and cookies.

For puddles, melt vanilla chips and the remaining shortening; stir until smooth. Place mixture in a large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Pipe mixture into the shape of a puddle onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets.

Immediately place a witch's hat on the puddle. Place a pretzel stick alongside the hat; sprinkle reserved tinted coconut at the end of the pretzel stick. Repeat with remaining puddles, hats and brooms. Chill for 15 minutes or until set. Store in an airtight container.Yield: 3 dozen.

Originally published as Melted Witch Puddles in Taste of Home's Halloween
Annual 2006, p54

"When I make these again ( because they were so cute), I want to use a puddle shaped sugar cookie with green frosting smoothly spread for the base. I found that my guest could barely eat these before the chocolate started melting. I may only use half an Oreo for the hat too. Can't wait to see how they turn out thus year:)"

"I tried this recipe tonight. I finally gave up after covering my self and everything else with chocolate, but hats still would not stay put, I tried toothpicks, allowing it to set so more sticky still the same. It may have been the bugles. I picked thru and found all the intact ones (approximately 30 in one bag). Even then they were all uneven on the bottom and would not attach. To me these were not easy. My husband was happy I used the melted chocolate over his ice cream."